Feeding mechanism for stapling machines



May 25 1926. 1,586,064

T. A. BRIGGS FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STAPLING MACHINES Filed Feb. 16. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7a z/enior:

May 25 1926. 1,586,064

T. A. BRIGGS FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STAPLING MACHINES Filed Feb. 16, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 25, 1926.

UNITED STATES.

' [1,586,064. PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. BRIGGS, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOB 1'0 BOSTON WIRE STITCHER COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OI MAINE.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STAPLING MACHINES.

Application filed February 16, me. Serial No. 019,449.

This invention relates to improvements in stapling-machines for. stapling together sheets of paper or the like, and particularly to the feed-mechanism thereof.

One object of the invention is to provide a ratchet-operated feeding-means for feeding the staples one at a time to the stapling-v mechanism' which inserts them through the work and clinches their legs thereagainst.

Another obj ect of the invention is to provide means for controlling the feed-mechanism from the movement of the stag} driver to insure that astaple will invaria be fed to the driver at each operation thereof.

Another object of the improvement is to provide a feeding-means in which the feed is regulated to prevent the feeding'of a-sec- 0nd staple to the driver before the one previously fed has been applied to the work.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred embodiment of the'invention as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fi 1 is a vertical sectional view of a stapling-machine, taken on the line 11 of Fig. 2, and illustrating my improved feedmechanism as applied thereto;

Fig. 2, an enlarged plan view of the stapllng-arm of the machine showing its 7 \fore part in. section on the line 2- 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, an enlarged perspective view of the stapling-arm showin portions thereof broken away in cross-section to more clearly illustrate the relation of the parts,

Fig. 61, a detailed view in perspective of the feed-mechanism actuating-member showing its corelation with the staple-driver of the machine; and

Fig. 5, an enlarged rear face view of the staple-driver.

, Referring to the drawings, the, present improved feeding-mechanism is herein shown as applied to use in connection with a stapling-machine of the type disclosed in a pending application for' U. S. Letters Patent, Serial No. 567,303, filed June 10, 1922. -As illustrated in Fig. 1, the-staplingmachine comprises, in general, a flat base .2 designed to rest [upon the desk, table or other support, and an upper-stapling-memher or arm 3 hinged to the-rearward end of the base to adapt it to be pressed down against the work placed beneath its forward end. The arm 3 also serves as a ma azine for holding a supply of wire stap es s, and at its forward end carries the stapledrivlng means which cooperates with the clincher-device at the front of the base 2. The arm 3 is pivoted on a in 4 extending between a pair ofears 5 w ich project up- :wardly from the base 2 to overlap the sides of the arm. A substantially flatspring 7, fastened to the base at 8, extends across the under side of thepivot-pin 4, and bearmg at 1ts end against a tubular cross-strut or rivet 9 which connects the sides of the arm, acts to normally maintain the arm In its raised position as shown. The sides of the arm 3 are constructed in the form of sheet-metal strips or plates 10', which are held in parallel spaced-apart relation by a plurality of the tubular struts or rivets 9, previously referred to. At the forward end of the arm 3 a pair of opposite wings or uprights 11 project forward to provide vertical ways or guiding-means for slidably. mounting the reciprocable staple-driver 15.

.The staple-driver 15 consists in two overlying flat plates having splined edges 16 which are fitted to slide in vertical grooves 14 at the forward ends of the plates 10 of the arm 3.

Restin upon the upper edge of the staple-drlver 15 is a. presser or hand-knob 17 provided with a downwardly-extending extension or plate 18 which abuts the front face of the driver and is fastened thereto by means'of lugs or ears 19 and 20 bent around the sides thereof. As illustrated in Fig. 5, I employ two pairs of lugs for this purpose, the lugs 20 of the lower pair being somewhat longer than the upper 1ugs 19 and serving as the means for operatmg the ratchet-mechanism which controls the. staple-feed iii a manner as later explained. Mounted between the uprights 11 on the arm 3 is a thimble or cup 22 arranged at the rear of the staple-driver 15 and having a flat face 23 on its forward side which provides a bearing for the driver. A coiled spring 25 seated in the cup 22 bears against the underside of the presser or knob 17 to maintain the driver normally raised as illustrated 'in'Fig. 1; a suitable stop, not herein shown, being provided to limit the upward movement of the driver.

rod 46 is held in inwardly at the top to formshouldered led cs 26, see Fig. 3, and then upwardly at rig t-angles again to provide vertical flanges 27 of which the uprights 11, previously. referred to, form extensions, see also Fig. 2. Arranged within the sides of the hollow arm 3, underlying the shouldered ledges 26, is an inverted trough-or U-shaped core 30 having its lower sides offset or bowed outwardly to abut the inner faces of the sideplates 10. The core 30 is fastened in place by the cross-struts or rivets 9 extending between the plates 10, and serves as a support or trackway for the staples s straddled across its top. As shown most clearly in Fig. 3, the top of the core 30 is bowed downwardly or formed with a concaved central portion 33 with two raised shoulders 31 at the sides thereof on which the staples rest. The shoulders 31' are located at a sli ht distance below the ledges 26 to provi e a space in which the cross-bars of the staples slide, while the topsides 32 of the core 30 are spaced away from the side plates 10 to provide clearance for the legs of the staples.

The staples s are pro lled along the core 30 to' feed them forwar to the staple-driver 15 by means of a slidable. staple-pusher 35.

The staple-pusher 35 is preferably construct ed from sheet-metal, bent into inverted U- shape in cross-section to form opposite runmm 36 straddling the sides of the core 30 and slidable therealong, see Figs. 1 and 3. On the top of the slide or pusher 35 is a vertical fin or rib 37 formed by folding the metal together on a medial line with its opposite sides abutting. The rib or fin 37 extends rearwardly beyond the runners 36 in a sort of tail 38 w ich is provided for a purpose as later explained.

Dlvergin outwardly from the sides of the rib or 37 are two substantially fiat spring-leaves or pawls 40 having their outer ends curled around at 42 to adapt them to engage with the ratchet-teeth 44 on a pair of horizontal] -extending rods 45 and 46, see Fig. 2. e spring-leaves 40 are fastened to the pusher 35 by inserting their ends through vertical slits 47 in the sides of the fin 38, the sides of the fin being spread apart slightly to receive the abutting por-:

tions of the spring-leaves which are thus clamped together and held securely in place there y. i

The two rods 45 and 46 extend alongside the vertical flanges 27 which rise from the ledges 26 on the side-plates 10 of the arm 3, and their rearward ends are held in place by bent loops or shepherds crooks 48 underlying a pair of ears 49 projecting outwardly from the top of the flanges. The fixed position on the arm 3 by its forward bent end 50 which is inserted through a hole 51 in the side-plate 10. The opposite rod 45 is adapted to be slid longitudinally of the arm 3 and acts as the reciprocating-element for the ratchet which advances the staple-pusher toward the forward end of the arm. The ratchet-teeth 44 on the rodsw45 and 46 are formed by scoring or notching their opposite sides 1n any convenient manner as by passing them through suitable dies.

The means for reciprocating the slidable ratchet-rod 45 comprises a V-shaped springelement 55 adapted to be oscillated from the movement of the staple-driver 15. As shown in Fig. 1, the. two forward uprights 11 on the arm 3 are tied together at the top by a tubular cross-strut or rivet 56, and looped around this strut is the sheet-metal spring-element 55 comprising two divergent arms 57 and 58. The forward arm 57' of the spring 55 is widened at the bottom in a plate 59 of the same width as the driverbowed outwardly at 60, see Fig. 4, to ro-' vide a convex surface adapted to ear against the rearward face of the driver 15, the bowed portion being extended to form a cylindrical loop or socket 61 adapted to receive the bent-over end 62 of the rod 45, see also Figs. 2 and 3. Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, the rearward arm 58 of the spring 55 is provided at its bottom with a crossbar 64, the ends of which are adapted to seat in notches 65 cut into the forward edges of the two uprights or wings 11 on the arm 3. Through this arrangement the s ring-element 55 is held under tension wit its forward arm 57 bearing against the rearward havln an arched portion 71 resting across a pin 2 extending between the sides of the arm 3, and two leaves 73 and 74reaching rearwardly and forwardly therefrom. The rearward leaf 73 bears against the under side of the concaved top of the core 30, while the forward leaf 74 normal] bears against the front edge thereof an projects outwardly beyond the driver 15 to catch the staples as they are pushed off from the .core. The arrangement of this part of the stapling-machlne is substantial] the same as that described and illustrated in a pending a plication for U. S. Letters Patent, Serial 0. 567,304, filed June 10, 1922.

At the forward end of the base 2 of the machine is a clincher-devicecomprising a clinch them against the under side thereof.

Arched above the clincher-anvil 75 is a work-support 78 which consists in a resilient plate adapted to hold the work raised above the anvil 75, being provided with an opening 79 through which the legs of the sta 1e are projected down against the anvil. he purpose of this part of the mechanism is set forth in a pending application for U. S. Letters Patent, Serial No. 567,305, filed June 10, 1922. j

Having now described in detail a preferred form or embodiment of the invention the method of operation of the device will next be explained. To load or charge the machine with staples the pusher 35 is removed from the magazine by withdrawing it from the rearward end of the arm 3.. To accomplish this the operator grasps the 'two spring-leaves or pawls 40 between the fingers and pinches them together to release their ends '42 from the teeth 44 on the ratchets 45 and 46. The staple package, or stick as it is sometimes called, is then rested against the rearwardly projecting end of the core and the staples slid off from the stick and onto the core in straddled relation therealong as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The staple-pusher is next replaced in the magazine by grasping its tailpiece 38 between the fingers and sliding its forward end in under the ledges 26 of the side-plates 10 until itbrings up against the rearward staple in the row on the core 30. As the 'staple-pusher 35 is pushed, forward its spring-leaves or pawls 40 ride over the-teeth on the ratchet rods and 46 and finally engaging therewith hold the pusher from rearward movementon the core.

The machine-is now ready for operation and, as before stated, the arm 3 is ndrmally held in its raised position as. shown in Fig. 1 to receive the work to be stapled under its forward end. The sheets of paper or other articles to be -fastened together are placed across the work-support 78 and the arm 3 brought down thereagainst bypressing on the knob 17. It isto be understood that in placing the staple-pusher 35 in position in the magazine, in the manner as above explained, the ..staples are pushed along the arm 3 until the leading staple is carried off from the forward end of the core 30 into the grooves 14 at the front of the arm. Theleading or fed staple will then be caught by the supporter with its crossbar resting thereacross in position to be 0 erated upon 'by driver 15 as the latter is slid downwardly on the arm 3.

The initial pressure on the knob 17 causes staple s to drive its legs through the work.

As the staple is inserted through the work in this manner its legs bring up against the clinchin -anvil 75, a'ndmeantime the worksupport 8 is compressed or flattened under the pressure of the arm 3 so that finally the legs of the staple will be bent over and clinched against the work. 1

As the staple-driver descends its rearward face slides against the rounded lower bearing 60 of the spring-arm 57, see Fig. 1,

downward stroke of the driver 15 the ratch-Q et-rod 45 is slid rearwardly on the arm 3 a sufficient distance to release the pawl 40 on the pusher 35 from one tooth 44 of the ratchet and to engage it with the next forward tooth on the rod. Meanwhile, the staple-pusher 35 is held from rearward movement or retraction in the magazine by its opposite pawl 40 engaging with one of the teeth 44 on the fixed rod 46.

Now, as the driver ascends under the imulse of itsspring 25, after the staple has een applied to the work, the lugs 20 at its sides will ride up away from the arm 57 and the latter will be permitted to spring forward again into normal position as shown in Fig. 1. As the arm 57 swings forward it draws the rod 45 with it, and since the, pawl 40 on the pusher 35 is engaged with one of the teeth on said rod the pusher will be slid forward to advance the row of staples 8 alongthe core 30 so that the next leading staple will fed into position beneath the driver 15. As the pusher 35 is advanced in this.

manner with a step-by-step motion, with each step occurringafter a complete reciprocation of the driver, its detent pawl 40 will engage successivel with the teeth 44 on the fixed rod 46 so t at accidental or unwarranted retractive movement of the pusher is prevented.

It has been explained that the staple-supporter 7 0 holds the staples s in the slots 14 at the forward end of the arm 3 to prevent them from dropping out of place. The

staple-supporter 70 is so proportioned that when the staple is driven through the work the downwalid movement of the forward leaf 74 will cause its end to be withdrawn from beneath the staple as the legs of theor insufficiently to set the staple in the work, then the supporter 7 0 will still hold the staple suspended thereon, and rising again with the driver under its spring action will return the staple to its first position as shown in Fig. 1. In this way the staple is retained in the grooves 14 of the arm 3 -the driver 15, the rod will not be drawn forward again to advance the staple-pusher 30 until the machine is clear and a new staple is required for the next operation. It will therefore be seen that the staples can only be fed forward one at a time after each complete operation of the stapling-mechm nism. The machine is thus rendered more positive and efficient in its actionbypreventing the crowding or clogging of the staples during their feeding movement.

It will be observed from the foregoing descri tion that my invention provides aparticu arly simple and efficient feed-mechanism for stapling or like machines, which is more positive in action and practically proof against derangement or getting out of order. I-Ieretofore in machines of the present type it has been the usual practice to propel the staple-pusher along the magazine by means of a relatively long coiled spring which is held constantly under tension. When the ma azine is fully charged with staples, with t e pusher drawn clear back to the rearward end of the machine, the propelling spring will be under maximum tension so that it yvill function efficiently for the purpose intended. As the staples are fed out from the magazine, however, the spring contracts and its tension is gradually lessened, so that finally it will exert muchless force on the pusher and in some cases will fail to propel the latter should the staples stick or am slightly. Furthermore, the cons'tant stretching and contracting of the spring between distant limits will soon lessen its resiliency and impair its efliciency so that .eventually it will fail to function properly and must be discarded and replaced. I

With the present improved arran ement of the feeding-means the spring-e ement which operates the ratchet to propel the staple-pusher forward has but a very slight flexing action and consequently its.effe7:tiveness will not be impaired by constant use. The sta ling-mechanism as a whole is therefor rendered much more positive in action and durable in use and the machine thereby greatly improved.

While I have herein described and illustrated only one preferred embodiment of the improvement it is obvious that the structure and arrang ment of the device may be modifid to a considerable extent without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore Without limiting myself in this respect, I claim: I

1. In a stapling-machine, the combination with the stapling-mechanism including a staple-driver, of a magazine adapted to hold a supply of staples arranged in series therealong, feeding-means movable 0n the magazine to slide the whole series of staples to deliver one at a time from the magazine.

and means actuated by the staple-driver to operate the feeding-means.

2. In a stapling-machine, the combination With the stapling-mechanism including a staple-driver, of a magazine for holding a supply of staples, feeding-means slidable on the magazine at the rear of the series of staples to push them therealong to feed them individually therefrom, and means actuated by the staple-driver to slide the StapIe feeding means.

3. In a stapling-machine, the combination with the stapling-mechanism including a staple-driver, of a magazine for holding a supply of staples arranged in series therealong, a staple-pusher travelable with respect to the magazine at the rear of the series of staples to feed them therealong, and means actuated by the sta le-driver to advance the staple-pusher Wit a step-bystep motion.

4. In a stapling-machine, the combination with the stapling-mechanism including a staple-driver of a magazine for holding a sup ly of staples, a staple-pusher travelable on t e magazine for feeding the staples one at a time therefrom, a ratchet for advancing the staple-pusher with a step-by-step motion, and means actuated by the stapledriver to reciprocate the ratchet.

5. In a stapling-machine, the combination with the stapling-mechanism including a staple-driver, of a magazine for holdingva supp y of staples, a staple-pusher slidable on the magazine to feed the sta les therealong, a ratchet actuated by t e sta ledriver to advance the staple-pusher wit a step-by step motion, and means to prevent the retrogressive movement of the staplepusher.

6. In a staplin -machine, the combination with the stap ing-mechanism including a staple-driver, of a magazine for holdin a supply of staples, a staple-pusher slida le on the magazine to feed the sta les therealong, a ratchet actuated by t e stapledriver to advance the staple-pusher with a step-by-step action, and a second ratchet for preventin retrogressive movement of the staple-nu an 7. In a stapling-machine, the combination with the stapling-mechanism, including a' staple-driver, of a magazine for holding a supply of staples, a staple-pusher slidable on the magazine to feed the staples therealong, and reciprocable means actuated by the staple-driver to advance the staplepusher with a step-by-step motion.

8. In a stapling-machine, the combination with the stapling-mechanism including a staple-driver, of a magazine for holding a supply of staples a staple-pusher travelable on the magazine to feed the staples therealong, a reciprocable ratchet actuated by the staple-driver to advance the staplepusher with a step-by-step motion, and a stationary ratchet for holding the pusher from retrogressive movement.

9."In a stapling-machine, the combination with the stapling-mechanism, of a magazine for holding a supply of staples, a

staple-pusher slidable on the magazine to feed the staples therealong, a fixed ratchet,

a pawl on the pusher engaging said ratchet,

a second reciprocable ratchet, a pawl on the pusher enga 'ng the second ratchet, and means to reciprocate the second ratchet to advance the pusher with a step-by-step motion;

10. In a stapling machine, the combination with the stapling-mechanism, of a magazine for holding a. supply of staples. a e

staple-pusher slidab on t e ma azine to feed the staples therealong, a ratc et reciprocable with respect to the magazine, a pawl on the staple-pusher engaging the teeth of the ratchet, means actuated by the stapling-mechanism to move the ratchet in one direction, and resilient means for moving the ratchet in the op osite direction.

11. In a stapling-mac ine, the combination with the stapling-mechanism, of a magazine for holding a supply of staples, a stapleusher slidable on the magazine to fee the staples therealong, a ratchet actuated for movement in one direction by the stapling-mechanism, means for moving the ratchet in the opposite direction after its actuation j by the stapling-mechanism, and means on the staplepusher engaging the ratchet to cause the pusher to advance with a step-by-step motion. a

12. In a stapling-machine,. the combination with the stapling-mechanism, of a magazine for holding a sup 1y of staples, a staple-pusher slidable on the gnagazine to feed the staples therealong, a ratchet adapted to be actuated by the action of the stapling-mechanism, and a awl on the stapleusher on aging the rate et to efi'ect a preetermined advance of the pusher at each operation of the stapling-mechanism.

13. In a stapling-machine, the combination with the staphng-mechanism including a staple-driver, of means for holding a series of wire staples in alined relation at the rear of the stapling-mechanism, slidable means for feeding the staples forward to deliver them one at a time to the stapling-mechanism, and .means actuated by the stapledriver to advance the feeding-means with a step-by-step motion.

14. In a stapling-machine, the combination with the stapling-mechanism including a. staple-driver, of an arm for supporting the staples in alined relation at the rear of the stapling-mechanism, a staple-pusher slidable on the arm to feed the staples therealong, and means actuated by the staple-driver to advance the staple-pusher from end to end of the arm with a step-by-step motion.

15. In a stapling-machine, the combination with the stapling-mechanism including a staple-driver, of a hollow arm, means within the arm for supporting thestaples in alined relation, a staple-pusher slidable on the arm, and means actuated by the staple driver to advance the staple-pusher along the arm with a step-by-step motion.

.16. In a stapling-machine, the combination with the stapling-mechanism, of an arm for supporting the staples in alined relation at the rear of the stapling-mechanism, a staple-pusher slidable on the arm to feed the staples therealong, a fixed ratchet on the arm, a second ratchet reciprocable on the arm, pawls on the staple-pusher engaging the teeth on the ratchets, and means actuated by the stapling-mechanism to reciprocate the second ratchet to advance the staplepusher with a step-by-step motion.

17. In a stapling-machine, the combination with the stapling-mechanism, of means forsupporting the staples in alined relation at the rear of the stapling-mechanism, V a staple-pusher slidable on said means, a fixed ratchet, a second slidable ratchet, pawls on the sta le-pusher engaging the ratchets, a spring or urging the second ratchet forward with respect to the stapling-mechanism, and means actuated by the stapling-mechanism to slide the second ratchet rearwardly against the action of the spring.

18. In a stapling-machine, the comb nation with the stapling-mechanism, of'an arm for supporting the staples at the rear of the stapling-mechanism, a staple-pusher for sliding the staples forward on the arm, a fixed ratchet on the arm, a second ratchet slidable on thearm, a spring-arm connected with the second ratchet to urge it forward and adapted to be actuated by the stapllngmechanism to slide said ratchet rearwardly, and pawls on the staple-pusher engaglng the ratchets.

19. In a stapling-machine, the combmation of an arm for supporting the staples, a staple-pusher slidable on the arm, a fixed ratch t 0.1 the arm-arranged at the side of the staple-pusher, a second ratchet slidable on the arm atthe opposite side of the pusher, pawls projecting from the sides of the pusher to engage the ratchets, a springarm for urgingthe slidable ratchet forward "on the arm, and a staple-driver reeiprocable on the arm and adapted'to move the slidable ratchet rearwardly against the action of the spring.

20. In a stapling-machine, the combination with a staple-carrying arm, a staple pusher slidable onthe arm, a ratchet reciprocable on the arm, means on the pusher adapted to engage successively with the teet 011 the ratchet, a spring-arm connected with the ratchet to urge the latter forward, and a staple-driver reciprocable on the arm and adapted to act with a wedging eifect on 1 the spring-arm to slide the ratchet rearwardly.

21. In a stapling-machine, the combination with the stapling-mechanism, of a magazine for supporting the staples in alined relation at the rear of the staplemechanism, a staple-pusher slidable on the magazine, said pusher comprising an inverted U-shaped member constructed of sheet-metal with a fin on its top formed by folding the metal together on. a medial line,

pusher along the magazine with a step-bystep motion.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

THOMAS A. BRIGGS. 

